Powering the Future with SuryaHurricanes

A national NGO in partnership with a local NGO and a cooperative have developed an innovative device called “SuryaHurricane”, a low-cost solar lantern made from recycled parts of the conventional and much used kerosene lantern.

Since 2008, the partnership provides women with SuryaHurricanes to replace the currently widely used kerosene hurricane lanterns. The SuryaHurricane is a low-cost solar powered lantern made from recycled traditional kerosene lanterns, where the wick and burner are replaced with a Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL). The initiative is not only innovative because it is the first in Bangladesh to convert kerosene hurricane into solar lanterns, but it is also unique because it gives access to solar power to people earning less than one dollar a day, who do not have access to existing solar programs. For example, a 20 Wp solar home system costs USD198.53 per year or USD29.78 deposit, plus USD4.97 a month for 36 monthly instalments through micro-credits. Yet SuryaHurricane is a unique solar solution, because it costs only US $12.23 a year. Families will pay USD 4.35 for converting their kerosene lamps into solar ones and USD 0.073 for every re-charge, thereby increasing their incomes compared to using kerosene. The solar lanterns can be re-charged twice a week at a SuryaShroy (solar energy shelter), which can be located within a school, organization and/or individual’s house. People can use SuryaHurricanes at home, for fishing, and work at night.

The lanterns not only benefit the household by improving work capacity (due to better and longer light) and income opportunities, it also enables children to study in the evening, as the light quality is much better than that of kerosene lamps. Furthermore, since women are the ones in charge of the solar lamps and are the only ones eligible to become members of the SuryaShroy, the initiative also strengthens their position within their family and communities. For instance it helps women to be involved with the family decision making process and the monthly meetings improve their involvement in their community. Last but not least, it reduces reliance on kerosene, which between 2009-10 will decrease CO2 emissions by 7,884 tonnes, which will save about 288,000 litres of kerosene and 4,562 kWh of electricity. The initiative targets the 52% of Bangladesh’s population – over 74 million people – that live in rural areas without electricity.

SEED supported Shidhulai in its expansion by:

providing support in developing the next generation SuryaHurricane lantern

providing support to help with the distribution of SuryaHurricane lanterns to 2,000 families living in 40 flood-prone villages,

supporting training and public events in villages where staff of Shidhulai explain how SuryaHurricane lanterns work and the benefits they bring

training women how to use and maintain SuryaHurricane lanterns

supporting the provision of post-sale support to users.

SEED also supported Shidhulai in its efforts to gain access to potential donors and funders. The high-level award ceremony, hosted by the British High Commissioner in Dhaka, provided an opportunity to meet several ambassadors and heads of development institutions and foundations. The ceremony was widely covered in national media and led to several follow-up meetings and visits to the project site by potential funding partners

Impressions

Rent solar hurricanes to entrepreneurs/ organisations that will train women to maintain the lanterns

Teach children to use the lanterns in order to study at night

Agree a contract with a bank to finance the entrepreneurs’ costs

Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha

Daridra Bimochon Sanstha (DBS)

Panchshisha Bahumukhi Somobay Somity (PBSS)

Social Development Research Programme (SDRP)

Rupkatha

Financial assistance to assist through the next stage of scale up to allow the entrepreneurs/ organisations to rent out the lamps and so train women in the use of the SuryaHurricane lamps

Assistance in profiling/marketing to gain international recognition and stimulate local banks/foundations to support the project

SEED supported Shidhulai in its expansion by:

providing support in developing the next generation SuryaHurricane lantern

providing support to help with the distribution of SuryaHurricane lanterns to 2,000 families living in 40 flood-prone villages,

supporting training and public events in villages where staff of Shidhulai explain how SuryaHurricane lanterns work and the benefits they bring

training women how to use and maintain SuryaHurricane lanterns

supporting the provision of post-sale support to users.

SEED also supported Shidhulai in its efforts to gain access to potential donors and funders. The high-level award ceremony, hosted by the British High Commissioner in Dhaka, provided an opportunity to meet several ambassadors and heads of development institutions and foundations. The ceremony was widely covered in national media and led to several follow-up meetings and visits to the project site by potential funding partners

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